Beginning next week the local Jewish community will celebrate Passover like most Jewish holidays, with family and food.

Passover begins on the evening of Friday, April 3 and ends on the evening of April 11 this year.

During Passover, Jews celebrate their deliverance from Egypt.

Orthodox, or highly observant, Jews celebrate Passover for eight days. Most American and Israeli Jews celebrate the holiday for seven days.

To commemorate the Exodus, many abstain from bread and other leavened food products, including corn, rice and beans.

Phyllis Marcus of Monroe’s Temple B’Nai Israel said Passover is one of the most significant Jewish holidays because of the reflection on the struggle of the Jewish people and their freedom from oppression.

“It’s a very important holiday, and one of freedom. Most of the Jewish holidays are based on family and a family gathering. With the food, we try to remember a little bit of everything, and it’s very basic. The bitter herbs represent the bitterness they went through and we don’t eat any type of bread product. It’s important to be with family and friends and remember what the Jews went through,” Marcus said.

Rabbi Barbara Metzinger of New Orleans will lead the seder Friday night at Temple B’Nai Israel.

She said there are there are two significant moments in Judaism — the birth of creation and the Exodus from Egypt.

“This is a significant event of God hearing the cries from the people and freeing them from slavery. We remember that event whenever we pray. The seder tells the story and gives us the opportunity to tell the story again. It’s set up for children to answer their questions in a way that’s meaningful. It’s a teaching moment to remember our heritage and how we got to where we are today,” Metzinger said.

A festive meal, known as a seder, begins Passover. Celebrants relive the Exodus through songs, symbolic foods, games and stories.